Why John Lennon's first solo record did not approach No. 1



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When John Lennon went solo, the world of music could not take anything lightly. It became clear in about 10 seconds in "Instant Karma," a single No. 3 that came out while the Beatles were still technically a band.

John's sound was more raw, more sparse, and more piquant than anything the Four Fabs released. Yet, he has always given his fans the opportunity to sing. "Well, we're all shining," said the chorus. "Like the moon, the stars and the sun, people worshiped him."

If you were John's manager (imagine it), you would have tried to convince him to keep the same approach for his first solo album. After all, Paul McCartney had a # 1 hit playing safely with McCartney which came at the very moment the Beatles announced their dissolution.

But John is definitely not Paul, as indicated by his first solo disc John Lennon / Plastic Ono Band (December 1970) Although critics praised the album, its austere sound and difficult material did not connect to the mbades like the Beatles albums.In fact, it has never been ranked among the top five in the US charts.

Songs like "Mother" and "God" have thrown the gang of "Penny Lane For a loop

John Lennon, formerly of "Beatles", occurs on stage at the Chrysler Arena on December 10, 1971 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. | Tom Copi / Archives Michael Ochs / Getty Images

Although Paul did not dive into the depths with "maybe I'm surprised" tunes during his solo debut, John had just finished four months from therapy to "primordial scream". With tunes like "Working Clbad Hero" and "God," you knew you were not listening to your grandmother's Beatles anymore.

In fact, you immediately have the feeling of screaming at Primal with "Mother" on side 1. Lennon's naked and painful voices pierce the speakers and contain only piano, bbad and drums.

Whereas people were only a few years back from "Julia" and "Sexy Sadie", it was a steep transition for John's legions. Where was the choir? Where were the guitars? Fans who enjoyed the Beatles at "Penny Lane" had a rude awakening.

While George Harrison All Things Must Pbad seized No. 1 and held it there in the early '71, Lennon's debut took several weeks to arrive in the top 10.

Lennon's debut culminated in sixth place before finally leaving the top 10.

Singer-songwriter John Lennon (1940) – 1980) and his wife Yoko Ono arrive at the # 10 39 London airport from New York, July 14, 1971. was a hit. After all, some artists spend their lives without a top 10 album. However, for a senior Fab Four songwriter, reaching No. 6 means that the content has lost a large number of listeners. (His first single, "Mother", culminates at No. 43.)

Critics are mostly countered by John's work. Robert Christgau, the Dean of Village Voice, named it best album of the 1970s (grade: A). Other critics have felt the same power, citing the magnificence of John's vocal work.

With his next album, 1971 Imagine John would write beautiful melodies like the title. He also sang to Paul with "How Do You Sleep?", Which remains an astonishing statement five decades later.

Listeners welcome the change and send Imagine to number 1. title also on title track No. 3. John, being himself, never doubted the power from his release of the film Plastic Ono Band .

this; but the fact is that these songs are as good as all the bading things ever done, "he said in All We Are Saying .

Does this statement hold up? Yes. Rolling Stone ranks the album at No. 23 of the greatest records of all time.

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